Nelson man who fled to Spain jailed for 16 years

A SEX fiend who repeatedly abused a young boy and girl has been jailed for 16 years, after being brought back from Spain to face justice more than 30 years on.

Burnley Crown Court heard an international arrest warrant was drafted for Allan Jones, 72, after the allegations first came to light in 2011.

But it was only in May this year that the former Nelson lorry driver was arrested by Spanish police at his home in the small town of L’Olleria, halfway between Valencia and Benidorm.

He was held in Valencia initially before being transferred to Madrid, where he spent 32 days in prison before he was flown back to the UK, to appear before Blackburn magistrates on June 14, the court heard.

Jones was initially charged with 25 sexual offences, which date between 1977 to 1984.

He admitted seven offences of rape involving a girl, three indecent assault charges and two offences of gross indecency with a child, in relation to the same victim.

Jones also pleaded guilty to seven indecent assaults on the same boy.

He denied six other offences of rape and two charges of cruelty to a child, which were allowed to remain on the file.

Sending him behind bars for 16 years, Judge Andrew Woolman said that the female victim had told the court how the defendant had ‘taken her childhood away’.

Prosecutor Mark Lamberty said that Jones also threatened the girl that she would be taken into care if she told anyone what he had done to her.

The court heard that his male victim had suffered from depression and made attempts on his own life.

Richard Taylor, defending, said his client, who had no previous criminal convictions, was in very poor health and suffered from diabetes.

“Whatever happens he will almost certainly die in prison,” he told the court.

Jones wanted to apologise to his victims and had expressed remorse through his pleas, added Mr Taylor.

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